The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

"The whole roof got ripped off and I came out and we were just looking into the sky and the water," he told 9NEWS.

"My partner was screaming and we dug through the rubble and found this guy under the roof and all the wires and stuff. It was probably the scariest two minutes of our life."

The damage could pose a serious health risk as crews begin assessing the damage and clearing the areas worst hit.

While machinery worked to clear the area this afternoon, residents have only been able to scramble basic belongings while they await confirmation that their buildings are completely free from asbestos.

In other parts of south-east Queensland, emergency services have expressed frustration after dozens of motorists drove across flooded roads.

“Only 15cm of water can move your car off the road and I don’t think people realise,” Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey said.

“Everytime someone drives into floodwater, they’re also putting their rescuers at danger.”

Parts of Brisbane received well over 100mm of rain yesterday, including a drenching 178mm in the inner Brisbane suburb of Toowong, according to the Bureau of Meterology.